I wrote this for ADVrider, so some of it you guys know already very well.........I studied the ST for over a year waiting on the Vstrom to be upgraded. When it was, I was not impressed at the changes and bought a Tenere almost immediately. My first ST was a new 2013, which I bought as a left over in early 2014. My 13 was recently totaled and I replaced it with a 2015. In 2014, Yamaha did a bunch of upgrades referred to as Generation 2. 2013 and previous are Gen 1. Here is what was added/changed.
The big changes are a new clutch basket design and a revised cam chain tensioner. My 13 had fine clutch action that only vibrated a little in a narrow rpm range around 3500 to 4000. I considered my clutch fine and did not change it. Some clutches are worse. The new clutch parts are around $300 (not including labor). The clutch can be annoying on some bikes but will not fail. The cam chain tensioner (CCT) is another matter. The CCT starts letting the timing chain run loose and rattle, and if the bike jumps time, it will usually cause major damage to the engine. Supposedly you hear this coming on as a rattle at cold start up. Many Gen 1 owners changed the part as preventative maintenance and I was planning on doing this myself. My 13 had 37,000 miles and sounded fine to me. The CCT is about $150 and a relatively easy repair. Both these upgrades could be done for under $500 if you do it or about $800 for a shop.
The small stuff that was upgraded in 2014. Handle bars are higher and a little further back, they are also rubber mounted now....ergonomics is personal but my hands no longer get numb. Engine mapping is revised. The new tuning is good for around 8-10 more horsepower...or so they say, my 13 seemed just fine. My 2013 seemed to have more torque off-idle but ran out of wind faster, the 2015 is a little flat off idle but once rolling feels like it is much faster through the revs. There is much more difference between T and S settings on the new bike. I rode the 13 in the S-mode and the 2015 in the T-mode.
Turn signals are now LED. The windshield is now adjustable and larger. All Teneres have cruise control now and the system is almost telepathic....easily the best cruise control system on any vehicle I have ever used. The instrumentation is now all digital and more comprehensive, while the previous version had an analog tach (which I prefer). The new instruments are easier to use since the functions are now changed from the left handle bar, but the sun glares off the instrument screen more now than it did on my 2013. The bike now has flash to pass headlights and emergency flashers....both left off the Gen 1. The mirrors are restyled and appear shorter to me. The kickstand is now forged aluminum instead of steel...also a little easier to deploy with your foot. The new version has a little spoiler under the headlight while to old one does not.
To me, I would still buy a Gen 1, but would add $1,500 to $2,000 to the price of the Gen 1 when comparing it to a 2 (all else being equal)....mainly due to the clutch, CCT and cruise control. I splurged and got the 2. I never considered buying the adjustable suspension version.....I am a set it and forget it rider and the stock suspension uses quality components equal to the ES version. I located new 2013 models for about $9,500 and the 2015 I bought was $12,400, OTD without taxes.
I love my Tenere. It is a great touring bike. It will do 80 MPH easy. Carries a load with ease. My 13 got around 45 mpg consistently and the 2015 is getting 47 mpg. The ABS and traction control work great. The bike is easy to do maintenance like oil changes and air filters on. Most owners I know have not needed to adjust the valves on them. The shaft drive is wonderful.
As for the Africa Twin. It is also a great ADV bike, but is more dirt focused. I would put the Tenere at 70 street/30 dirt and the AT at 50/50. The AT is around 70 pounds lighter, but is also a 1000cc versus 1200 cc and has chain-drive. The AT needs a center stand that the ST comes with. I only got to ride a friends AT once, for an afternoon (manual version), but it feels a little more top heavy and less planted. Not anything annoying, just different. The AT is a great bike and a Honda. But, I again choose the Tenere again.
